Multilevel sheet metal container with outwardly beaded end faces

ABSTRACT

A multilevel container is disclosed which comprises circumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded end faces. The wall and bottom elements are placed on top of each other on butt joints so as to seal the end faces and are detachably braced with a minimum of one neighboring container level. The multilevel container also comprises one or more sealing rings and bracing components that act on neighboring end faces. In order to provide a readily manufacturable and form a stable multilevel container without multiple beads in alternating directions or weldings in the butt joint portions, a separate and independent shape retaining ring is provided. This ring reinforces the container and has shape retaining surfaces on its two end faces. In the region of their end faces, the neighboring wall and bottom elements are set on and tightly braced against the shape retaining surfaces of the reinforcing shape retaining ring. Radially inside or radially outside the reinforcing shape retaining ring, a separate sealing ring is inserted between the radially outwardly beaded sheet metal end faces of the neighboring bottom or wall elements of the multilevel container or between these end faces and the reinforcing shape retaining ring.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present invention relates to a multilevelsheet metal container with outwardly beaded end faces. The containerutilizes a unique sealing configuration and sealing ring betweencontainer levels or regions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To meet the requirements of different container sizes or therequirements of containers with changeable bottom or wall elements, itis customary in the case of multilevel containers to ensure thestability of the container in the butt joint region by means of anappropriately robustly designed bracing ring (German Patent DE U1 88 10118). Between the bracing ring and the outwardly beaded end faces of thecontainer wall or bottom elements, elastic sealing rings are insertedinto the butt joints. An elastic sealing ring or one of the lips of amultisegmented elastic sealing ring is inserted in the area between thefacing end faces of the outwardly beaded sheet metal of which the bottomand wall elements are made. While the bracing ring and the radiallyoutwardly beaded end faces can be in direct contact with each other, thesealing ring between the radially outwardly beaded end faces facing eachother, however, cannot be omitted.

To increase the stability along the butt joint, a supporting ring whichis located on the inside and which partially straddles the twoneighboring container walls can be used (German Patent DE A1 40 09 659).

Multilevel containers made of sheet metal are known in which the buttjoints are reinforced with massive flanges. These flanges are welded tothe circumference of the container wall. Compared to these knowncontainers, the generic multilevel containers with beaded end faces havethe advantage that they can be produced much less expensively.

To provide the butt joints of this design with sufficient stability,however, the conventionally known beaded areas are reinforced in abridge-like manner by means of multiple beads in alternating directions.Among other things, these reinforcements have the disadvantage that theyform grooves in which the material stored in the container can betrapped. For reasons of hygiene, this is undesirable, especially in foodand pharmaceutical applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on these considerations, the problem to be solved by the presentinvention is to provide a generic multilevel container so as to berobust, but without flanges that need to be welded onto the butt joints,so that no beading folds or grooves can form in which the materialstored in the container can be trapped or accumulated.

To solve this problem, a multilevel container having certain features isprovided. Specifically, the present invention provides a separate andindependent shape retaining ring which reinforces the container. Theshape retaining ring has on both of its end faces, shape-retainingsurfaces with which the neighboring wall and bottom elements that aremade of container sheet metal are reinforced directly in the area oftheir radially outwardly beaded end faces. One or a plurality ofadditionally disposed sealing ring(s) is (are) separately bracedradially inside or radially outside of the reinforcing shape-retainingring between the outwardly beaded end faces (made of sheet metal) of theneighboring bottom or wall elements of the multilevel container or(individually) between these end faces and the reinforcingshape-retaining ring.

The present invention provides a readily producible and simplyconstructed multilevel container in which the neighboring bottom andwall elements are connected to each other by means of a direct, inparticular metal, contact. While ensuring high stiffness, the inventionalso provides for a lightweight construction and modular design. In thecontainer surface area which comes into contact with the productcontained therein, in particular along the butt joints, dead spaces canbe eliminated or avoided. This ensures that relatively high and in manyinstances, the highest, hygiene requirements are met. In addition, thisconfiguration promotes easy cleaning of the container and its interiorsurfaces. Furthermore, the present invention avoids the broader problemsarising with the known multilevel, i.e., modularly designed, containers,such as electrostatic charges and shear deformation of seals duringoperation under a vacuum, as well as shape-retaining problems caused byan uneven distribution of the load on the collets and centeringproblems. Since in the stacking joint design according to the presentinvention the end faces of the neighboring container wall and bottomelements are made of the same sheet metal, of which the container jacketand container bottom are made, i.e., of sheet metal with a wallthickness of less than about 10 mm, and especially less than 4 mm, it iseasy and efficient to manufacture the modules. Due to the use of aseparate and independent shape-retaining ring with shape-retainingsurfaces on the end faces which reinforces the container, theunavoidably present tolerances during sheet metal forming (beading) arenot critical, and a precise stacking height can be maintained. Thisstacking height does not alter even when excess and reduced pressure isapplied. Accordingly, the container is stable in height and length.

The separate and independent shape-retaining ring providesshape-retaining end faces which reinforce the container. The shaperetaining ring exerts its supporting function especially along theradially outwardly beaded flanges on the end faces of the preferablycircumferentially continuous bottom or wall elements of the multilevelcontainer. The shape retaining ring can be manufactured by either metalcutting from solid or tubular material or by any molding or castingtechnique or die-casting technique with or without a mechanicalaftertreatment. Materials to be considered, in addition to metal andmetal alloys, are synthetics with or without reinforcements. On theshape-retaining ring which reinforces the container, especially radiallyalong the inside, it is possible to attach built-in components, such asfunnels, filter plates, closing or separating elements and many others.

In the region running radially on the outside, the radially outwardlybeaded flange region on the end faces of neighboring bottom or wallelements can be fitted with collar-like reinforcement bridges whichsurround the wall or bottom element and which are also formed by beadingthe sheet metal of the container.

With respect to size, shape, material selection and technical design,the previously mentioned components to be used according to the presentinvention are described in the practical examples below. These aspectsare not subject to any particular conditions so that the selectioncriteria conventionally used in the field in which components areapplied can be used without restriction.

Additional details, features and advantages of the subject matter of thepresent invention follow from the claims and from the description belowof the associated drawings which, by way of an example, show preferredpractical examples of the multilevel container of sheet metal that isoutwardly beaded on the end face in accordance with the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of a multilevelcontainer comprising one upper bottom element and four wall elements ina schematic axial section view;

FIG. 1B shows a second embodiment of a multilevel container comprisingone upper bottom element and two wall elements in an axial section view;

FIGS. 2A through 2D show a vertical section of portions of a butt jointof neighboring container elements with radially outwardly locatedprofile sealing rings, with FIG. 2A showing a basic embodiment of thereinforcing shape retaining ring, FIG. 2B showing the shape retainingring with a welded on filter plate, FIG. 2C showing the shape retainingring with an inserted funnel (welding joint not shown), and FIG. 2Dshowing the shape retaining ring with the filter plate inserted but notwelded on;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a different embodiment of the shape retaining ringwith a dovetail configuration for mounting a profile sealing ring thatis located inside, with FIG. 3A showing a basic form and FIG. 3B showingan embodiment with a reinforcing element for a funnel mount that isformed by the sealing ring;

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the shape retaining ring according toFIGS. 3A and 3B, with a collar for supporting a profile seal designed ina funnel like shape;

FIG. 5 shows another alternative of a shape retaining ring with adovetail design in an embodiment in which the diameter is reinforced;

FIGS. 6A through 6C show three different embodiments of the beaded endfaces of neighboring container or bottom elements, with FIG. 6Aproviding a short and FIG. 6C a long one sided collar and with FIG. 6Bproviding maze like overlapping collars on both sides;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a shape retaining ring with contour surfaces which,up to the bent regions, conform to the metal beading, with FIG. 7Ashowing container/bottom elements with collars on both ends and FIG. 7Bshowing said elements without collars;

FIG. 8 shows a shape retaining ring with separate mounts on both endsfor one sealing ring each;

FIGS. 9A through 9C show a shape retaining ring with radii on the endface and with different slopes of the end faces of the shape retainingring and the container end faces so as to be able to exert increasedclamping forces, with the clamping surfaces of the bracing rings in FIG.9A being radially located far inside, in FIG. 9B being distributed overa large radius, and in FIG. 9C being radially located far outside;

FIG. 10 shows a bracing ring with clamping surfaces radially located faroutside;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a shape retaining ring with a conforming end faceprofile (similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B), but for the attachment of onesingle outwardly located sealing ring;

FIGS. 12A through 12D show a two part shape retaining ring with a diskvalve (discharge flap), with FIG. 12A showing a section through the diskvalve along the axis of rotation, FIG. 12B showing an enlarged detail ofFIG. 12A, FIG. 12C showing a section at right angles to the axis ofrotation, and FIG. 12 D showing an enlarged detail of FIG. 12C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The five level container 10 with container levels 10A through 10E shownin FIG. 1A comprises four identical cylindrical, circumferentiallycontinuous wall elements 12A and a pot-like bottom element 12B on itsupper end. The lowermost wall element 12A serves merely as a supportingstand for mounting a discharge funnel 24″ which, on its tapered end,supports a throttle valve 26. Both this lower funnel 24″ as well asfunnel 24′ located higher up and filter element 28 are supported on theradial inside surface of one shape retaining ring each. The funnels andthe filter element can be continuously connected along the circumferenceto shape retaining ring 20 as described below, e.g., by means ofwelding. The butt-joints of container levels 10A through 10E aredesigned as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2A through 2D and will bedescribed below on the basis of FIG. 2A.

As FIG. 1A also shows, it is possible to provide container level 10Cwhich serves as a cyclone so as to cause a coarse separation of theconveying fluid and the material conveyed. The cyclone element 24′ usedfor this purpose is circumferentially continuously connected, inparticular welded, to a shape retaining ring 20 as is described below.If relatively long filter candles are used, level 10B can be designed soas to be higher then container level 10C. Due to the height of thedischarge unit, this also applies to a potentially higher containerlevel 10A. Thus, to radially reinforce the container levels, inparticular 10B and 10A, these can be provided with circumferentiallycontinuous crimps 15 which are formed in one piece from the material ofwall element 12A.

FIG. 1B shows another example of the diverse modular configuration ofmultilevel containers according to the present invention.

It can be seen from FIG. 1B that filter plate 28A holds a filtergenerally identified by reference numeral 28 and that the filter plateis connected in a circumferentially sealing fashion to shape retainingring 20A, which will be described below, so that above filter plate 28A,a suction chamber 30A forms in bottom element 12B, which suction chamberis fluidically connected via a suction opening 30B and suction line 30Cto vacuum pump 30 and is fitted with conventional seals. Because of thepermeability of filter 28 to fluids, a vacuum is generated in theintermediate storage space 30D located underneath filter 28 when vacuumpump 30 operates and throttle valve 26 of discharge funnel 24″ isclosed. The vacuum can be extended by conventional means via outletopening 25A provided in wall element 12A and an associated, preferablytangentially disposed intake stub 25 into a storage space (not shown)for material to be conveyed. This type of basic configuration of anintermittently operating vacuum conveying device is actually known. Thecircumferential butt joints of the jacket surface of the neighboringcontainer levels 10A, 10C and 10E can be designed in a manner describedwith reference to the following figures (beginning with FIG. 2).

As an alternative, vacuum pump 30 can be disposed in a conventionalmanner directly on the upper bottom element 12B. Filter element 28 canbe so called filter candles which can be attached to and suspended in aconventional manner from filter plate 28.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2A through 2C, wall elements 12A and bottomelement 12B are made in one piece from sheet metal with a wall thicknessof approximately 1 to 4 mm by means of a conventional forming process,such as roll forming, in the course of which beaded end faces 14 aremanufactured which have lower (14A) and upper (14B) end faces as contactsurfaces. On the end faces of the container levels, starting fromcircumferential container wall 10F, there is a bent region 10G which isfollowed by a beaded end face 14 in the form of a flange 14C in theshape of a slightly tapering truncated cone. This flange can endradially outwardly in a truncated fashion as, e.g., shown in FIGS. 7Band 11A and 11B, or be extended so as to form another bent region 14Dwhich, relative to bent region 10G, turns in the opposite direction andwhich is followed by a reinforcement bridge 14E that runs approximatelyparallel to the container. In the practical example shown in FIG. 2A,these reinforcement bridges 14E are oriented toward one another, leavinga space gap in between.

A separate and independent solid circumferentially continuous shaperetaining ring 20 which reinforces the container and which is a metalring manufactured by means of metal cutting is inserted on the buttjoint between the end faces so that in the region of flanges 14C, theupper and lower beaded end faces 14A and 14B of the neighboringcontainer walls are supported across the entire surface by theassociated shape retaining surfaces 20A, 20B on the end faces of shaperetaining ring 20. In bent region 10G, shape retaining ring 20 hereshown is designed so as to curve into the opposite direction, thusensuring that minor variations in the dimensions potentially present inbent region 10G do not have a negative impact. The inside diameter ofshape retaining ring 20 is selected to ensure that it conforms to theinside diameter of the container. On its radial outer surface, shaperetaining ring 20 has upper and lower seal mounts 20C for mounting asymmetrically designed circumferential sealing ring 16, with sealingring 16 comprising upper and lower sealing ridges 16A and 16B as well asa connecting bridge 16C (FIG. 2B). Sealing ring 16 is dimensioned sothat it is positioned close to and seals the two end faces 14A and 14Bof flanges 14C, on the one hand, and supports itself in seal mounts 20Cof shape retaining ring 20 and (radially on the outside) against each ofthe reinforcement bridges 14E.

The shape retaining ring 20 and end faces 14A and 14B of the neighboringcontainer elements, which end faces are adjacent to the shape retainingsurfaces of the shape retaining ring, are preferably in direct contactand tightly braced against each other. This is preferably achieved byusing a bracing ring 18. Although a bracing ring 18 is generallydescribed herein, the various sealing embodiments can employ any similartype of bracing component. In the practical examples shown in FIGS. 2Athrough 2C, bracing surfaces 18A are positioned flat on the oppositelyfacing flange surfaces of neighboring container elements. Thus, they aredesigned with the same slope as flanges 14C and shape retaining surfaces20A and 20B, i.e., they have a slightly conically truncated shape.Radially outwardly, bracing ring 18 and reinforcement bridge 14E form aspace gap so as to allow the bracing forces to take effect in aconventional manner.

Thus, shape retaining ring 20, with its shape retaining surfaces 20A and20B, exerts functions that reinforce the container elements, without thenecessity to reinforce the end faces of the container elements as suchby means of multiple forming, which is necessary in conventionalcontainers. As a result, the container is both radially and axiallyextremely well reinforced and, in addition, protected against torsion,and the manufacture and assembly of the wall and bottom elements is verysimple and efficient. At the same time, the shape retaining ring 20safeguards the radially externally and internally locatedcircumferential seal which utilizes the bracing forces of the bracingring to exclusively generate the sealing function but not to transmitretaining forces between the neighboring container elements. Because ofthe simply designed shape and the insertion of the shape retaining ringbetween the beaded areas, undesirable zones in which material containedin the container can be trapped are avoided in a simple fashion.

Unless already otherwise stated in the brief description of the figures,practical examples 3A through 11B below differ from the practicalexample shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C as follows.

The dovetailed, radially internal designs of the shape retaining ringsaccording to FIGS. 3A through 5 make it possible to form fittingly mountinternally located sealing rings 16. These figures illustrate the shaperetaining ring defining one or more recessed regions or undercuttings.Preferably, these undercuttings exhibit a dovetail profile.Reinforcements 24A can be welded onto the shape retaining rings 20(FIGS. 3B and 4) or be made in one piece with the shape retaining rings20 (FIG. 4), so as to reinforce extensions that project radially intothe container, such as funnel shaped lips of the sealing ring, i.e.forming funnel 24.

FIGS. 6A through 6C show three different embodiments of the beaded endfaces of neighboring container or bottom elements 12A, 12B, with FIG. 6Aproviding a short one-sided collar configuration and FIG. 6C a longone-sided collar configuration and with FIG. 6B providing maze-likeoverlapping collars on both sides.

The deposition of contaminants in the seal or joint region isconsistently avoided especially since the shape retaining ring has aprofile that also conforms to the beading curvature, as seen in FIGS. 7Aand 7B. Alternatively, a radially internally located sealing ring suchas in FIG. 3A—can be disposed close to bent region 10G even in cases ofinferior accuracy to size, which is an especially simple solution.

FIG. 8 shows a shape retaining ring 20 with separate mounts or recessedregions on both ends for one sealing ring 16 each.

FIGS. 9A through 9C show a shape retaining ring 20 with radii or roundedend regions on the end face(s) and with different slopes of the endfaces of the shape retaining ring and the container end faces so as tobe able to exert increased clamping forces. That is, the contactingsurfaces of the shape retaining ring 20 wall elements 12A, 12B, are notparallel with each other. In addition, the clamping surfaces, or rathercontacting surfaces, of the bracing rings 18 in FIG. 9A are locatedradially far inside, in FIG. 9B are distributed over a large region, andin FIG. 9C are located radially far outside.

FIG. 10 shows a bracing ring 18 with clamping surfaces radially locatedfar outside.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a shape retaining ring 20 with a conforming endface profile similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B, but for the attachment of onesingle outwardly located sealing ring 16. The bracing ring 18 contacts aportion of the wall elements 12A, 12B along bracing surface 18A.

According to FIGS. 12A through 12D, a container reinforcing shaperetaining ring 20′,20″ according to the present invention can be axiallydivided into two parts along the midline so as to make it possible tomount a movable component, such as the throttle valve 26, which canserve, e.g., as a discharge valve for a conveyer. In this case,appropriately large recesses for mounting the bearing in the shaperetaining ring are disposed in the region of the pivot bearing 26A. Thelarge recesses accommodate a valve edge seal 26B.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   10 Multilevel container    -   10A Container level    -   10B Container level    -   10C Container level    -   10D Container level    -   10E Container level    -   10F Wall of container    -   10G Bent region    -   12A Wall element    -   12B Bottom element    -   14 Beaded end face    -   14A End face    -   14B End face    -   14C Flange    -   14D Bent region    -   14E Reinforcement bridge    -   15 Crimp    -   16 Sealing ring    -   16A Sealing ridge    -   16B Sealing ridge    -   16C Connecting bridge    -   18 Bracing ring    -   18A Bracing surface    -   20 Shape retaining ring    -   20′ Shape retaining ring    -   20″ Shape retaining ring    -   20A Shape retaining surface    -   20B Shape retaining surface    -   20C Seal mount    -   22 Bottom    -   24 Funnel    -   24′ Cyclone element    -   24″ Discharge funnel    -   24A Funnel reinforcement    -   25 Intake stub    -   25A Outlet opening    -   26 Throttle valve    -   26A Pivot bearing    -   26B Valve edge seal    -   28 Filter element    -   28A Filter plate    -   30 Vacuum pump    -   30A Suction chamber    -   30B Suction opening    -   30C Suction line    -   30D Intermediate storage chamber

The foregoing description is, at present, considered to be the preferredembodiments of the present invention. However, it is contemplated thatvarious changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art,may be made without departing from the present invention. Therefore, theforegoing description is intended to cover all such changes andmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, including all equivalent aspects.

1. A multilevel container comprising circumferentially continuous wallor bottom elements of sheet metal with radially outwardly beaded endfaces being directed towards each other, which wall and bottom elementsare disposed on top of each other on butt joints so as to seal the endfaces, the multilevel container also comprising a sealing ring and abracing component that act on neighboring end faces, and a separate andindependent shape retaining ring which reinforces the container, whereinthe shape retaining ring has shape retaining surfaces, the shaperetaining ring being disposed between said radially outwardly beaded endfaces of the neighboring wall and bottom elements, said outwardly beadedend faces of said elements being abutted directly on and tightly bracedagainst the shape retaining surfaces of the shape retaining ring fromopposite sides thereof, and that radially inside or radially outside theshape retaining ring, the sealing ring being disposed between theradially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring bottom or wallelements or between these end faces and the shape retaining ring.
 2. Themultilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape retainingring has at least one recessed region for a seal mount.
 3. Themultilevel container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the seal mountdefines at least one undercutting.
 4. The multilevel container asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the undercuttings define a dovetail profile.5. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaperetaining ring includes container components selected from the groupconsisting of funnel elements, bottoms, filter elements, throttleelements, closing elements, reinforcement elements, and combinationsthereof.
 6. The multilevel container as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshape-retaining ring is divided into two parts.
 7. The multilevelcontainer of claim 6, wherein the divided shape-retaining ring isadapted for mounting a component within the ring.
 8. The multilevelcontainer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the divided shape retainingring defines at least one recess for receiving a built in component. 9.The multilevel container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the built incomponent is a pivot bearing.
 10. A multilevel container comprisingcircumferentially continuous wall or bottom elements of sheet metal withradially outwardly beaded end faces being directed towards each other,which wall and bottom elements are disposed on top of each other on buttjoints so as to seal the end faces, the multilevel container alsocomprising a sealing ring and a bracing component that act onneighboring end faces, and a separate and independent shape retainingring which reinforces the container, wherein the shape retaining ringhas shape retaining surfaces, the shape retaining ring being disposedbetween said radially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring walland bottom elements, the elements being disposed on and tightly bracedagainst the shape retaining surfaces of the shape retaining ring fromopposite sides thereof, and that radially inside or radially outside theshape retaining ring, the sealing ring being disposed between theradially outwardly beaded end faces of the neighboring bottom or wallelements or between these end faces and the shape retaining ring whereina minimum of one wall or bottom element has a radially externallydisposed reinforcement bridge which extends approximately parallel tothe wall of the container and which is disposed in one piece with thebeaded end face on the radial outside of said beaded end face.
 11. Amultilevel container comprising: a first cylindrical section defining afirst end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending betweenthe first and the second end of the first section, the first enddefining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face; a secondcylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and acircumferential wall at least partially extending between the first andthe second end of the second section, the second end defining a radiallyoutwardly extending second beaded end face the first and second endfaces being directed towards each other; a shape retaining ring directlyabutted between the first beaded end face and the second beaded endface, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower slopedface, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces,and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between theupper and lower sloped faces; a sealing ring disposed along the outerface of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end faceand the second beaded end face; wherein the inner face of the shaperetaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in thecontainer in the region of the ring is reduced.
 12. The multilevelcontainer of claim 11 further comprising: a bracing ring disposed aroundthe first section and the second section and contacting the first beadedend face and the second beaded end face.
 13. A multilevel containercomprising: a first cylindrical section defining a first end and asecond end, and a circumferential wall extending between the first andthe second end of the first section, the first end defining a radiallyoutwardly extending first beaded end face; a second cylindrical sectiondefining a first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall atleast partially extending between the first and the second end of thesecond section, the second end defining a radially outwardly extendingsecond beaded end face; a shape retaining ring disposed between thefirst beaded end face and the second beaded end face, the ring definingan upper sloped face, an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner faceextending between the upper and lower sloped faces, and an outer faceopposite the inner face and extending between the upper and lower slopedfaces; a sealing ring disposed along the outer face of the shaperetaining ring and between the first beaded end face and the secondbeaded end face; wherein the inner face of the shape retaining ring isadapted such that accumulation of material in the container in theregion of the ring is reduced and the shape retaining ring defines atleast one indentation configured to receive and contact a region of thesealing ring.
 14. The multilevel container of claim 11 furthercomprising: a second sealing ring disposed along the outer face of theshape retaining ring and between the first beaded end face and thesecond beaded end face.
 15. A multilevel container comprising: a firstcylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and acircumferential wall extending between the first and the second end ofthe first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extendingfirst beaded end face; a second cylindrical section defining a first endand a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partiallyextending between the first and the second end of the second section,the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded endface; a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end faceand the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face,an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between theupper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner faceand extending between the upper and lower sloped faces; a sealing ringdisposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and betweenthe first beaded end face and the second beaded end face; wherein theinner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulationof material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced andthe shape retaining ring includes an extension extending radially inwardof at least one of the first and second cylindrical sections, theextension extending from the inner face of the shape retaining ring. 16.A multilevel container comprising: a first cylindrical section defininga first end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extendingbetween the first and the second end of the first section, the first enddefining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face; a secondcylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and acircumferential wall at least partially extending between the first andthe second end of the second section, the second end defining a radiallyoutwardly extending second beaded end face; a shape retaining ringdisposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded endface, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower slopedface, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces,and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between theupper and lower sloped faces; a sealing ring disposed along the outerface of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end faceand the second beaded end face; wherein the inner face of the shaperetaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in thecontainer in the region of the ring is reduced and the shape retainingring defines an undercut recess and the sealing ring includes a memberextending radially inward and received by the undercut recess.
 17. Amultilevel container comprising: a first cylindrical section defining afirst end and a second end, and a circumferential wall extending betweenthe first and the second end of the first section, the first enddefining a radially outwardly extending first beaded end face; a secondcylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and acircumferential wall at least partially extending between the first andthe second end of the second section, the second end defining a radiallyoutwardly extending second beaded end face; a shape retaining ringdisposed between the first beaded end face and the second beaded endface, the ring defining an upper sloped face, an oppositely lower slopedface, an inner face extending between the upper and lower sloped faces,and an outer face opposite the inner face and extending between theupper and lower sloped faces; a sealing ring disposed along the outerface of the shape retaining ring and between the first beaded end faceand the second beaded end face; wherein the inner face of the shaperetaining ring is adapted such that accumulation of material in thecontainer in the region of the ring is reduced and the upper sloped faceof the shape retaining ring and the first beaded end face are parallelwith each other.
 18. A multilevel container comprising: a firstcylindrical section defining a first end and a second end, and acircumferential wall extending between the first and the second end ofthe first section, the first end defining a radially outwardly extendingfirst beaded end face; a second cylindrical section defining a first endand a second end, and a circumferential wall at least partiallyextending between the first and the second end of the second section,the second end defining a radially outwardly extending second beaded endface; a shape retaining ring disposed between the first beaded end faceand the second beaded end face, the ring defining an upper sloped face,an oppositely lower sloped face, an inner face extending between theupper and lower sloped faces, and an outer face opposite the inner faceand extending between the upper and lower sloped faces; a sealing ringdisposed along the outer face of the shape retaining ring and betweenthe first beaded end face and the second beaded end face; wherein theinner face of the shape retaining ring is adapted such that accumulationof material in the container in the region of the ring is reduced andthe inner face of the shape retaining ring is substantially flush withan inner face of the circumferential wall of the first section and aninner face of the circumferential wall of the second section.
 19. Themultilevel container of claim 11 wherein a portion of the first beadedend face overlaps a portion of the second beaded end face.
 20. Themultilevel container of claim 11 wherein a gap is defined between adistal end of the first beaded end face and a distal end of the secondbeaded end face.